Old Kilcullen in Wiki photo contest

Pic Brian Byrne 2010

The Round Tower and Old Kilcullen graveyard is one of 22 national monument locations in Kildare where photographers can go to participate in the world's largest photography contest, writes Brian Byrne.

The 'Wiki Loves Monuments' competition is a global contest run by the people behind Wikipedia, and has been certified as the world's biggest by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Trialled in 2010 in The Netherlands, in 2013 369,589 photographs were submitted by 11,943 participants from over 50 countries. For the second year, there is an Irish country participation, organised by the Wikimedia Ireland Community in partnership with the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht as well as National Heritage Week and the OPW.

The Irish contest runs from 23 August to 30 September 2015. The top ten winning entries from Ireland will be entered into the international competition. Rules and how to take part are here.

Along with the Old Kilcullen location, the County Kildare sites are Taghadoe Round Tower & Church; Old Kilcullen Church, Round Tower & Crosses; Oughter Ard Tower Round Tower & Church; Castledermot Abbey Friary; Punchestown Great Standing Stone; Castledermot Round Tower & Crosses; Maynooth Castle; Jigginstown House; Connolly Folly Folly/Obelisk Barrogstown West; Moone High Cross, Church & Graveyard; Castletown House; White Castle; Carbury Castle; Carrickoris Castle; Donadea Castle-Fortified House; The Black Abbey; St Brigids Cathedral-Church, Round Tower & High Cross; Killashee Round Tower; Kilteel Castle; Kilteel Church; Mullaghmast Standing Stone; and Bride/St Brigids Well-Holy Well.